Gillette Puts Boston Red Sox “Beard Balls” Up for Charity Auction

Gillette is offering what might be the weirdest piece of sports memorabilia since Ty Cobb’s false teeth. To raise money for men’s health, the Boston shaving giant has put up on eBay the whisker scrapings of Red Sox players David Ortiz and Shane Victorino, who publicly sheared off their beards—with Gillette razors, natch—shortly after the World Series. Rather than let those “champion chops” go to waste, Gillette decided to auction these “beard ball trophies” to benefit Movember, a global nonprofit that encourages men to grow mustaches during the month of November to raise funds and awareness for prostate and testicular cancer.

MOS FOR BROS

“We’ve never done anything like this,” Hooman Shahidi, senior brand manager for Gillette, says in a statement. “But their facial hair has been the symbol of the team since spring training and became part of baseball lore. We hope the shavings help raise awareness for important men’s health issues and find good homes with passionate fans.”

The “beard balls” will benefit Movember, a men’s health charity that raises funds and awareness for prostrate and testicular cancer.

Needless to say, only rabid Red Sox fans need apply. If you can get beyond the eww factor, there’s also a matter of cost. With nine days still remaining, Victorino’s shorn locks have already achieved bids of up to $908.88. Ortiz’s were doing even better at press time, with bids topping $2,175.

“I’m glad that the beard that helped me throughout the series can now help raise funds for a great organization like Movember,” Ortiz says.